How Fantastic Four 2 Can Be A Lot Better

After a seven year absence, the Fantastic Four returned to the big screen last year with a new reboot intended to provide a new beginning for Marvels First Family. Unfortunately for 20th Century Fox, the movie bombed commercially and earned almost universally negative reviews. Months after its release, the studio took Fantastic Four 2 off its July 2017 release date, but producer Simon Kinberg thinks there’s still hope for a follow-up. He recently said:

It’s a big part of [Fox’s superhero] plan going forward.… I would love to continue making movies with that cast.

Kinberg reaffirmed wanting to make a Fantastic Four sequel while appearing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, but whether his wish is realized remains to be seen. There are a lot of obstacles in Fantastic Four 2’s way, including Michael B. Jordan, a.k.a. the movie’s Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, signing on to 2018’s Black Panther. However, let’s take an optimistic approach with this quote. Assuming that Fox holds onto the superhero property rather than strike up a deal with Marvel Studios (like Sony did with Spider-Man), we have a few ways that Fantastic Four 2 can be a significant improvement over its predecessor.

A Lighter Tone

Simon Kinberg has already admitted that Fantastic Four’s dark tone was a problem, but it’s still worth addressing. See, certain characters benefit from a darker move or adding gritty elements, like Batman did in 2005’s Batman Begins. The Fantastic Four do not belong in that group. Sure, the stories can often times get serious, and the team has certain been through rough times in the comics over the decades. However, the spirit of their adventures is frequently rooted in light and optimism. The Fantastic Four reboot went in a completely opposite direction, and overall consensus is that’s one of the main reasons it suffered. Making a lighter sequel might be caring when comparing to the first movie, but it will produce a more enjoyable experience filled with what a Fantastic Four movie needs: hope and fun. Whether that’s accomplished through a new director or a better script, it needs to be a priority.